Circuit-changer for electric railways.



' B. F. HUTGHBS, Jn. CIRCUIT CHANGER ron ELBcTmo. RAILWAYS.

I APPLICATION FILED HAB. I4, 1912.

Patented Feb. 17, 191% :zT-nn nenn sa m1 50 5] 52 @--L--f- Z9 f3- .5:5 fx j L N'En BY jmfw, a

ATTO/f EVS.

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B. F. HUTCHES, Jn. QIBUUIT Gamesa ron BLEcTnIo BAILWAYS.

APPLIGATIOI FILED AB. 14. 1912.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Q MM s TORNEY UNiTED sTAriEksgiirENT OFFICE.

' BENJAMIN E. HUTcHEs, .T R., or ALLENDALE, NEW JEnsEY.

entoure-CHANGER To all -w/iom 'it may concern Beit-known thatI, BENJA'ariiv ones, Jr., a citizen ofthe United States,

residing at Allendale, county .ofV Ber en ,"and

State of'New'Jersey, have invente a new and Im roved'Circuit-Chan er 4for Electric Rai ways, of which the. ollowing is a specicution. I

This invention relates to a circuit changer of novel construction which is more particularly designed to be employedl in con.

junction with automatic control systemsfor electric railways, shch asdescribed in a copending patent application filed by me February 7th, 1912 under Serial No. 676,0032 y Briefly stated the invention comprises a novel device which is controlled by the workino* circuit of the cars or trains, and which cilectivcly prevents collisions by automatically cutting otl the current from cars located in the safety zones adjoining that zone through .which a car is travelmg.

The device further includes novel means for gradually admitting the electric current to zones which were previously cut oil,

so as to prevent any damage to the motors, etc.. carried by the car situated in said zones.

The invention also comprises variousnovel features of construction as more fully pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a. circuit changer embodying my invention; Fig. 2 a wiring diagram, illustrating the circuit changer applied to a sin le track having three switches, and Fig. a t iagram showing the additional resistance contained in the cars.

The numerals 10 and 11 indicate a pair of electrouiagnets arranged on one side of a common or main armature 12, while on the other side thereof is provided an electromagnet 13. Armature 12 is fulcrumed at 14 and is furnished at its free end with a toothed sector 15 that meshes into a similar sector 16 rotatably mounted on a pin 17. Sector 16 is provided with an integral arm or swinging member 18, the enlarged free end of whidh is adapted to ride over the current receiving contacts 19, 20 of resistances 21, 22 respectively. To arml 18 is secured by insulator 23 a metallic `shoeorfbridge 24 adapted to consecutively engage the contncts 25, 26 ofreslstances 27, 28 respectively.- Opposite armaturev 12, electromagneta.10,5`

11 are-provided .with a `common auxiliary armature 29 which isnOrmalIyretracted Speeltication of Letters Patent. l Application tiled March 14,1912. Serial No. 683,693.

FOR ELECTRIC RAILWAYS.

Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

from saidelectromagnets owing to the resililency of the upper reduced section of said armature.

` Each of the elect-romagnets 10, 11, 18 is yprovided with a primary low resistance coil vand with a secondary high resistance coil as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. Thus electromagncts 10 and 11 carry the primary windings 30, 31 and the secondary windings 32, 33 res iectively, while electromagnet 13 is provided with a primary winding 34, and a secondary winding 35. The various windings coperate with the trolley wires of the electric railway, Fig. 1 illustrating the trolley wires 361, 371 pertaining to a. coperating track switch A1 (Fig. .2), said wires being insulated at 38 from the bifurcated ends of the flanking single trolley wires 39, 40. Winding 30 of electromagnet 10 is by wire or conductor 41 connected to trolley wire 40 and by wire 42 to the outer contact 20, a branch 43 leading from wire 41 to the outer contact; 2G. ln similarmanner, winding 31 of electromagnet-11 is by wire 44 connected to trolley wire 39 and by wire 45 to the outer contact. 19, a branch 46 leading from wire 44 to the outer contact 25.A Winding 34 is by wire 47 connected to both of the trolley wires 361, 371, and by wire 48 and flexible cable 49 to shoe 24. Armature 12 is by conductor 50 connected to the main feed wire 51, while a branch 52 leads from armature 12 to the 'auxiliary armature 29. One end of the secondary windin 32 is directly connected to wire 41 and tie other end thereot` is hv wire 53 connected to branch 52. ln similar manner secondary winding 33 is with one end directly connected to wire 44, while its other end is by wire 54 connected to branch 52. One end of the secondary winding 35 of electromagnet 13 is directly connected to wire 47, its other end being connected. by a wire 55 to a stationary contact 56 against which armature 29 rests when 'the electromagnets 10, 1l are denergized.

In Fig. 2 tliree track switches A1, A2, A3 are shown, while thc single track sections are marked B1, B2, B1, B4 respectively. The `above switches coperate with trolley wires or third rails 361, 371; 361, 371; and 361, 37 respectively while the single wire sections are marked 39, 40, 57, 58 cach single-wire boing insulated at 38 from the anking switch trolley wires. l i In general explanation it may be stated that a circuit changer as described is prolvgided for each trackswitch, the arran ement ein sing e track section, current is supplied. to the corresponding trolley wire sectlon throu h b othof the circuit,changersarranged at t e track switches that flank said sin le track section. So for instance if a car 1, travels in the direction of the arrow (Fi 2), the armatures 12 of circuit changers and Da pertaining to' track switchesA- and A are y swung toward the left reasons herein-V In this way.

after more fully explains arms 18 of these'crcuit changers are swung toward the right, so as to bridge the outermost contacts 19, 20. Part of the working current necessary for operating car Cilows from feed wire 51, throu h wire 50, armature 12 of circuit changergD, sectors 15, 16, arm 18, outer contact 19, wire 45, winding 31 of electromaefnet 11, and wire 44 to trolley wire 57. The other part of said work- 4ing current is supplied to trolley wire 57 through circuit changer D, the current here flowing from feed wire 51, through branch 50, armature 12, sectorsl, 16, arm 18, contact 20, wire 42, winding 30 of electromagnet 10, and wire 41.v In order to maintain armatures 12 in their pro er positions, even if the controller 59 of t e car is turned to out off the motor current, an additional comaratively high resistance GO is interpolated etween the conductors 61, 62 leading from the controllertojthe car wheels and trolley pole respectively. In this way a small current wil continuously flow through electromagnets 11, 10 of circuit changers D, D2 respectively as long as the car passes track section B, said small current being sufficient to maintain armatures 12 attracted by said electromagnets.

It is evident from Fig; 2 that the car C1 while traveling along track B' is el'ectivel protect-ed against head on and rear end co isions, as cars which may be located within switches A' and A' cannot leave said switches, the reason being that car C1 while running from switch A' into track B has automatically cut ott the current from trolley wires 36, 37 and 36, 37 as will be hereinafter more fully described. Fi 2 shows the arms 18 of circuit chan ers 2 and Da swun toward the right, so t at shoes 24 are out o engagement with the respective contacts 25 26 and therefore electric current cannot be supplied through wires 48, 49, windings 84, and wires 47 to the switch trolley wires. Thus for instance a car C shown to be located in switch A. cannot proceed since the current is cut ofi' fromI the trolley wires 36', 87 as above described.

As soon however as the trolley 6,3 of car C" leaves trolley vwire 57 and enga es wire 87', the current previously flowing t rou l electromagnet 11` of circuit changer and such that 4when a car travels a ongv a.

4armatures 29 engage contacts 56.

4most of such contacts.

,ond excitin fleaving the switch vchanger D will be automatically swung .winding 35 of velectromagnet 13, wire 47,

trolley wires 362, 372 and cars C1, C2 to the trackrails. Electromagnet 13 of circuit.

chan er D" is thus enereized to attract armature 12 and thereby swing arm 18 toward the left. In this way, shoe 24 will ride over contacts 25, 20 untll it bridges the outer- At the suine time two exciting circuits will be established, which cause the arms 18 of the flanking circuit changers DS, D1 to be swung toward the right and thus supply the necessary working current to shoe 24 ofcircuitchanger D thereby enabling both of the ears C1, C2 to proceed. Of one of said exciting circuits mentioned, the current flows from t'ced wire 51 to branches 50, 52 of circuit changer D, thence through wire 54, secondary winding 33 0f electromagnet 11, wire 44, trolley wire 57, wires 41, 43 of circuit changer D2, shoe 24, (which is now deflected toward the left), wires 49, 48, winding 34 of electromagnet 13, wire 47, trolley wires 362, 372 and cars C, C2 to the track rails A2. In this way, electromagnet 11 of circuit changer D3 is energized tov throw its arm 18 toward the ri ht and by engaging contacts 19, establis the above described circuit for providinlg the working current titrolley wire 57, w ience it will flow through wire 43 of circuit changer D2 to trolley wires 362, 372 by following the same course as the above described first exciting current. The second exciting current flows from feed wire 51 through branches 50, 52 of circuit changer D1, thence through wire 53, secondary winding 32 of electromagnet 10, wire 41, trolley wire 40, wires 44, 40 of circuit changer Du und shoe 24 (which is now deflected toward the left) to rails A in the manner described with respect to the first exciting current. Electromagnet 10 of circuit changer Dl is thus energized to attract its armature 12 and thereby throw the co )erating arm 18 toward the right. In this way the necessary circuit for the working current is established, said current flowing from feed wire 51 through branch 50 of circuit changer D1, armature 12, arm 18, contactl 20, wire 42, winding 30 of electromagnet 10, wire 4l and thence tocars C1, C2 by following the saine course as indicated with respect to the seccurrent. Both cars C1 and C are thus ena led to Xrocced, while upon their 2, the arm 18 of circuit ltoward the right, the'arms of the flanking circuit changers Dl and D1 reinainin in their right hand position, so that each o the trolley wires 57, 40`receive`s working current from both of its ends. The above mentioned reversal of the arm 18 of circuit chan er D is due to the fact that as soon as bot i cars leave switch Atlie'current previously fiowing through winding 34 of the co erating electromagnet 13 is interrupted, w ile exciting currents will flow in analogous manner to that previously described througgi the windings 32, 33 of circuit changer 2 to attract armature 12 and cause arm 18 to be tilted to the right, thereby supplying the desired working current to contacts 19, 20. 1t will be observed that before each arm 18 arrives at one of its terminal positions, either the arin itself o1' its shoe (according to the direction in which the arm is swung) must ride over a plurality of contacts before reaching the outermost contacts. So for instance when an arm 18 is swung toward the right, it will ride over a number of contacts 19, 20 before engaging the outer contacts. As the several contacts 19 as well as contacts 20 are connected by resistances 21, 22 respectively, it is obvious that the workin current supplied by arm 18 is but gradual y supplied to the trolley wires, so as to prevent any damage to be done to the car motors, etc., incase their controllers are set to full speed, while arm 18 is thrownl over to su p y current to the trolley wires. Forit e same reason the contacts 25, 26 are connected by resistances 27, '28 respectively, so as to permit a gradual increase of thecurrent sup lied to shoe 49 and to the cooperating trol ey wires. i

It is obvious that the electromagnets 10, 11, 13 hereinabove referred to may be replaced by electromotors of a different nature, that is to sav by other electrically actuated devices or electromotive agents capable of moving the various circuit closing elements.

I claim: I

1. In a device of the character described, a first. trolley wire, a pair of second trolley wires at opposite ends thereof and insulated therefrom, a plurality of opposed electromotors, an armature oscillating therebetween, first means coperating with said armature for supplying electric current to the second trolley wires, second means independfili ent of the first means for supplying electric current to said second trolley wiresvwhile said first means aredisconnected from said second trolley wires, and third means con-- a ot or, a pair o electromagncts, first means controlled by one of said electromagnets for supplying electric current to one of said trol ey wires, second means controlled by the other electromagnet for conductively connecting both of said trolley wires, and third means inde endent of the first means for supplying e ectric current to the first named trol ey wire while said first means are disconnected therefrom.

3. In a device of the character described, a first trolley wire, a pair of second trolley wires at opposite ends thereof and insulated therefrom, a lurality of eicctromagnets, a swin ing memllier adapted to be reciprocated there y, first means engaged by said member when in one of its terminal positions for' supplying electric current to the second trolley wires, second means engaged by said member when in its other terminal position for connecting said second trolley wires with the first trolley wire, and separate resistances connected to said first and second means.

4. In a device of the character described. a plurality of electromotors, a reciprocable member controlled thereby and carrying an insulated conductive bridge, two pairs of contacts ada ted to be alternately closed by said member and bridge, and trolley wires connected to said contacts.

5. In a device of the character described, a plurality of electromotors, a reciprocable member controlled thereby and carrying an insulated conductive bridge, means for supglying electric current, a current receiving rst contact adapted to be conductively connected to said current supplying means upon a movement of said member in one direction, a pair of second contacts adapted to be connected with each other by the bridge upon a movement of the member in the opposite direction, and trolley wires connected to said contacts.

6. In a device of the character described, a plurality of electromotors, a reciprocable member controlled thereby, means for supplying electric current, a series of current receivm` first contacts adapted to be consecutive y connected to said current supplying means upon a movement of the member in one direction, resistances intermediate said contacts, a series of pairs of sccond contacts, the contacts of said pairs being adapted to be consecutively connected with each other upon a movement oi said member in the opposite direction, resistunces intermediate said contact pairs, and trolley wires connected to said first and second contacts.

7. In a device of the character described, a plurality of clecti'omotors, a reciprocablc member controlled tliereb and carrying an insulated conductive bridy e, a first trolley wire, a air of second trol ev wires at opposite on s thereof and insulated therefrom, means for supplying electric curi-ont, two

i opposite direction, resistances interpolated yof each of. said series, means for connecting said eontactsjto the second trolleywires, two second series lof contacts adapted to be consecutively engaged by the ridge upon a movement ofthe reciprocable member in the between the contacts of each of said second series, and means for connecting the bridge to the first trolley wire.

8. In a devicevof the character described, a reci rocable main armature, a first and a secom electroniagnet adapted to move said armature lin' one direction, a third electromagnet adapted to move the armature in the opposite direction, means for sup lying electriccurrent, a pair of contacts a apted to be connected to said current supplying means upon a movement of the armature caused by an energizing ofthe first orsecond electromagnet, and means forconnecting said contacts to the windings of said first and second electromagnets. Y

9. In a device of the character described a reciprocable armature, a first and a secon electromagnet adapted .to move said armature in one direction, a third electromagnet adapted to move the armature in theropposite direction, means for supplyin electric current, a pair of first contacts a apted to be connected to said current supplying means upon a movement of the armature due to an energizing of the first or second electromagnet, a pair of second contacts, an insulated bridge adapted to conduetively connect said second contacts upon a movement of the armature due to an energizing of the third electromagnet, means for connecting said first contacts to the windings of the first and second -electromagnets, and means for connecting said bridge to the winding of the third electromagnet.

10. In a device of the character described. a reciprocable armature, a first and a second electromagnet adapted to move said armature in one direction, a third electromagnet adapted to move the armature in the opposite direction, means for supplyin electric current, a pair of first contacts a apted to be connected to said current supplying means upon a movement of the armature duc to an energizin of the first or second clcctromagnet, a pair of second contacts, an insulated bridge adapted to conduetively connect said second contacts upon a movement of the armature due to an -energizing jof the third'electromagnet, means for,l connectmg said first contacts to the windings g of the first and second electromagnets, means lfor connecting said bridge'to the winding of the third electromagnet, a first trolley :wire, a pair of second trolley wires at opposite ends thereof andinsulated therefrom, first conductors for connecting the windings of said first and second electromagnets to said second trolley wires, and a second conductor for connecting the winding of the third electromagnet to the first troley wire.

11. In a device of the character described, a reciprocable armature, a first and a second electromagnet adapted to move said armature in one direction, a third electromagnet adapted to move the armature in the opposite direction, means for supplying electric current, a pair of first contacts adapted to be connected to said current supplying means upon a movement of the armature due to an energizing of the first or second electromagnet, a pair of second contacts, an insulated bridge adapted to conduetively connect said second contacts upon a movement of the armature due to an energizing of the third eleetromagnet, means for connecting said first contacts to the windings of the first and second electromagnets, means for connecting said bridge to the winding of the third electromagnet, a first trolley wire, a pair of second trolley wires at opposite ends thereof and insulated therefrom, first conductors for connecting the windings of said first and second electromagnets to said second trolley wires, a second conductor for connecting the winding of the third electromagnet to the first trolley wire, and means for conduetively connecting said first conductors to the second contacts.

12. In a device of the character described, a reciprocable armature, a first and a second elcctromagnet adapted to move said armaturein one direction, a third eleetromagnet adapted to move said armat-ure in the opposite direction, means for supplying electric current, a pair of first contacts adapted to be connected to said current supplying means upon a movement of the armature due to an energizing of the first or second electromagnct a pair of second contacts, an insulated bric ge adapted to conduetively connect said second contacts upon a movement of the armature due to an energizing of the third electromagnet, means for connecting said first contacts to the windings of the first and second electromagnets, means for connecting said bridge to the winding of the third electromagnet, a first trolley wire, a pair of second trolley wires at opposite ends thereof and insulated therefrom, first conductors for connecting the windings of said first and second electromagnets to said second trolley wires, a second conductor for connecting the windingl of the third electromagnet to the first trolley wire, means for conduetively connecting said first conductors to the second contacts, and resisttanctes connected to the first and second conac s.

13. In a device of the character described, a reciprocable main armature, a first and a second electromagnet adapted to move said armature in one direction, a third electromagnet ada ted to move the armature in the opposite direction, each of said electromagnets being provided with a mutually connected primar and secondary winding, means for sup lying electric current, means for permanent y connecting the secondary windings of the first and second electro- "magnets to said current supplying means means controlled by and mc udmg sai main armature for connecting the primary windings of said first and second electromagnets to the current supplying means, and an auxiliary armature controlled by the first and second electromagnets for connecting the secondary winding of the third electromaenet to said current supplying means.

14. tn a device of the character described, a reciprocable main armature, a first and a second electromagnet adapted to move said armature in one direction, a third electromagnet adapted to move the armature in the opposite direction, each of said electromagnets being provided with a mutually connected primary and secondary winding, means for supplying electric current, means for permanently connecting the secondary win ings of the first and second electromagnets to said current supplying means means controlled by and inc udmg said main armature for connecting the primary windings of said first and second electromagnets to the current supplyin means an auxiliary armature contro led y the first and second electromagnets for connecting the secondary winding of the third electromagnet to said current su plying means, a first trolley wire, a air o second trolley wires at o posite en s thereof and insulated there rom, first conductors connecting the primary windings of the first and second electromagnets to the second trolley wires, and a second conductor connecting the primary winding of the third electromagnet to-the first t-rolle wire.

15. In a device of the c iaracter described, a recicprocable main armature, a first and a secon electromagnet adapted to move said armature in one direction, a third electromagnet adapted to move the armature in the opposite direction, each of said electromagnets being provided with a mutually connected primary and secondary winding,

means for supplying electric current, means for Cpermanentlyl connecting the secondary win ings of the first and second electromagncts to said current suppl ing means means controlled by and inciudmg said main armature for connecting the primary windings of said first and second electromagnets to the current sup lying means, an auxiliary armature contro led by the first and second electromagnets for connecting the secondary winding of the third electromagnet to said current supplying means, a first trolley wire, a pair o second trolley wires at opposite ends thereof and insulated therefrom, first conductors connecting the primary windings of the first and second electromagnets to the second trolley wires,

a second conductor connecting the primary4 winding of the third electromagnet to the first trolley wire, and means also controlled by the main armature for connecting the first conductors to the primary winding of the third electromagnet.

16. In a device of the character described, an oscillating armature, first and second electromagnets adapted to swing said armature in one direction, a third electromagnet adapted to swing the armature in the opposite direction, an arm operatively connected to the armature, an insulated bridge carried by the arm, a air of first contacts adapted to be engaged y the arm, a pair of second contacts adapted to be engaged by the bridge, and trolley wires connected to said contacts.

17. In a device of the character described, an oscillating armature provided with a toothed sector, first and second electromagnets adapted to swing said armature in one direction, a third electromagnet adapted to swing the armature in the opposite direction, an arm intergeared with the sector, an insulated bridge carried by the arm, adpair of first contacts adapted to be engage by the arm, a pair of second contacts adapted to be engaged by the bridge, means for connectin the first contacts with the first and secon( electromagnets, means for connecting the bridge with the third electromagnet, and trolley wires connected to said electromagnets.

- BENJAMIN F. HUTCHES, JR.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR E. ZUMPE, KA'rx-mnrNE Koen.

09pm o! this paient may be obtained for ave canin non, by addressing the "Commissioner of retenu, Washington, D. 0. 

